Buffalo WWII soldier who was MIA identified

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A World War II soldier from Western New York who was initially reported missing has been identified and will soon be buried in Buffalo.

World War II Private First Class Bartholomew C. Loschiavo joined the Army in 1940 and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, in the European Theater during the World War II, according to his obituary.

Loschiavo was killed in action on October 1, 1944 while fighting German troops in Luxembourg. His obituary states that his remains were not initially found by the military and that he was listed as missing in action. His remains were later found by Luxembourg residents and buried in a local cemetery. The remains were eventually transported by the U.S. military to the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, where he was listed as anonymous.

Family members took steps to access local remains in Loschiavo, and through DNA analysis of family members in Buffalo, the remains in the Luxembourg American Cemetery were identified as those of Private First Class Bartholomew C. Loschiavo from World War II.

Loschiavo’s remains will arrive in Buffalo on May 23. A visitation will be held at Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, 1340 Union Road in West Seneca, on June 1 at 10 a.m. Following church services, Loschiavo’s remains will be transported to Holy Sepulcher Cemetery on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga at noon where he will receive full military honors.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.